The hot rock is a stone that was inherited by many generations in Africa according to a African doctor, (Moses Gunn). However, it's effect is something else. The stone is located inside a measure on display inside a rectangular shaped glass structure. It hasn't been touched ever since. Well... until now.
Taking place in New York City, The Hot Rock is a caper comedy directed by Peter Yates. This was Yates' latest film since his biggest success in Bullitt, which was released 4 years ago. The problem is that Bullitt is a serious crime thriller that took place in San Francisco and dealt with very well detailed characters. The police matter in that was so pure and interesting that at least the viewer had to admired what was on the big screen. The Hot Rock, on the other hand, is perhaps the most unlikely film to be directed by Yates. The story is based on a book written by Donald Westlake, who specializes in writing about the latest adventures of a thief called Dortmunder.
Dortmunder, (Robert Redford), is released from jail and is told by his partner in crime, (George Segal), that an rare African stone is located inside a museum in Manhattan. Knowing this information, Dortmunder refuses to go along with the plan. So, he ensembles a crack team including an loudmouth, (Ron Leibman), an honest criminal, (Paul Sand), who's father, (Zero Mostel), is a lawyer. After the heist goes wrong and one of Redford's guys goes to prison, they realized that the stone was taken by Sand's character who swallowed it. The rest of the movie follows the crack team as they tries to retrieve the diamond so that they can get on with their lives. There's a lot of things that goes wrong while trying to get this tricky gem. First, the boys tries to retrieve it by opening up the sewer line in the jailhouse. Then, Redford threatens to kill Sand if he doesn't tell where the rock is.
All of this is pretty repetitive, but what interests me the most is the way the movie uses its charm to cut through the repeating story. Yes, this is perhaps way different than Yates' other movie Robbery, which was taken seriously. I suppose he is trying to make a effort to break into the comedy genre while still trying to tell a story that involves crime. It does work in this movie, but I still think the performances by Redford and his crew are somehow jaded. It's seems as if these actors are waiting around to get the stone back without having to break out of character.
Of course, there are some funny bits in this movie. My favorite is when Redford threatens to kill Sand and his father by throwing them both down an elevator shaft. You should see the look on Mostel's face when he said that he doesn't have the stone. Out of everything that works in this comedy caper, this scene works completely on its own.
The movie does have other humorous scenes involving Segal trying to steal the gem while Redford and Sand try their very best to hold up the heavy glass casing, trapping Segal inside the display case. That scene looks like it was borrowed from some of the famous 1920's silent comedies. But, the question is, does it worked? Yes, it does. It's rare that The Hot Rock wasn't a big success as Bullitt because maybe the comedy just didn't flow well into the crime matter of the story. The flow does work in this hilarious film and I'll tell you that it would be a whole lot more funnier if they put in more funny bits. That would something else. ★★★ 3 stars.
Taking place in New York City, The Hot Rock is a caper comedy directed by Peter Yates. This was Yates' latest film since his biggest success in Bullitt, which was released 4 years ago. The problem is that Bullitt is a serious crime thriller that took place in San Francisco and dealt with very well detailed characters. The police matter in that was so pure and interesting that at least the viewer had to admired what was on the big screen. The Hot Rock, on the other hand, is perhaps the most unlikely film to be directed by Yates. The story is based on a book written by Donald Westlake, who specializes in writing about the latest adventures of a thief called Dortmunder.
Dortmunder, (Robert Redford), is released from jail and is told by his partner in crime, (George Segal), that an rare African stone is located inside a museum in Manhattan. Knowing this information, Dortmunder refuses to go along with the plan. So, he ensembles a crack team including an loudmouth, (Ron Leibman), an honest criminal, (Paul Sand), who's father, (Zero Mostel), is a lawyer. After the heist goes wrong and one of Redford's guys goes to prison, they realized that the stone was taken by Sand's character who swallowed it. The rest of the movie follows the crack team as they tries to retrieve the diamond so that they can get on with their lives. There's a lot of things that goes wrong while trying to get this tricky gem. First, the boys tries to retrieve it by opening up the sewer line in the jailhouse. Then, Redford threatens to kill Sand if he doesn't tell where the rock is.
All of this is pretty repetitive, but what interests me the most is the way the movie uses its charm to cut through the repeating story. Yes, this is perhaps way different than Yates' other movie Robbery, which was taken seriously. I suppose he is trying to make a effort to break into the comedy genre while still trying to tell a story that involves crime. It does work in this movie, but I still think the performances by Redford and his crew are somehow jaded. It's seems as if these actors are waiting around to get the stone back without having to break out of character.
Of course, there are some funny bits in this movie. My favorite is when Redford threatens to kill Sand and his father by throwing them both down an elevator shaft. You should see the look on Mostel's face when he said that he doesn't have the stone. Out of everything that works in this comedy caper, this scene works completely on its own.
The movie does have other humorous scenes involving Segal trying to steal the gem while Redford and Sand try their very best to hold up the heavy glass casing, trapping Segal inside the display case. That scene looks like it was borrowed from some of the famous 1920's silent comedies. But, the question is, does it worked? Yes, it does. It's rare that The Hot Rock wasn't a big success as Bullitt because maybe the comedy just didn't flow well into the crime matter of the story. The flow does work in this hilarious film and I'll tell you that it would be a whole lot more funnier if they put in more funny bits. That would something else. ★★★ 3 stars.